Beeman Trophy matchups: Edge, Lancers

Londonderry's Sirena Paiva beats the throw to third base as Pinkerton's Candace Moore tries to apply the tag in the fourth inning of Friday's game at Pinkerton. (Thomas Roy/Union Leader)

Although both Pinkerton Academy and Londonderry High want possession of the Beeman Trophy, the award has some growing to do before it has the same notoriety as the Mack Plaque. The proof:

When Pinkerton baseball coach Steve Campo asked one of his players how big a deal the Beeman Trophy is Friday, Campo received no response. Just a blank stare.

And when Cassidy Litch, the third baseman on Londonderry's softball team, was asked if she knew anything about the Beeman Trophy, she shook her head from side to side.

The Beeman Trophy is awarded to either Londonderry or Pinkerton each year, depending on which school wins the most spring sporting events against the other. The schools' athletic teams battle for the Mack Plaque in the fall, and the Ball Trophy during the winter.

"The Mack Plaque is historic," Londonderry softball coach Wayne MacDougall said. "The others just have a few years of tradition."

It was advantage Londonderry on Friday, as the Lancers beat the Astros 12-4 in softball and 4-1 in baseball.

"The fall is special because all of the (athletic) events are in one (weekend)," Pinkerton athletic director Tim Powers said. "It's hard to match that atmosphere in the winter or the spring."

The Londonderry baseball team capped a 3-0 week with its 4-1 triumph, which raised the team's Division I record to 8-3.

Tom Corey pitched the first six innings to collect the win. Ryan Moloney came on in the seventh to collect the save, his second to go with three wins.

The Lancers trailed 1-0 after two innings, but scored three runs in the third and one in the fifth. Brett Evangelista had two of Londonderry's six hits.

Pinkerton, which dropped to 3-8, left nine runners on base.

"We're just not getting the big hit that could bust a game open," Campo said.

Litch, a junior, was among the stars for the Londonderry softball team Friday. She drove in four runs to help the Lancers raise their Division I record to 6-4. Londonderry softball also completed a 3-0 week.

Lauren Reinhold scored four runs for Londonderry. The Lancers received a complete-game pitching performance from Leah Hunt, who held the Astros to seven hits.

Sam Hennequin drove in two runs for Pinkerton, which did all of its scoring in the third inning. The loss dropped the Astros to 4-6.

The teams also competed in track, unified track, tennis and boys' volleyball this spring. The winner of the Beeman Trophy will be determined by the results of boys' and girls' lacrosse.

"I knew we were playing for something," Litch said. "I just hadn't heard of the name.